*Pat Reddan. Photograph: Brendan Gleeson
Redzer Regera owned by Killaloe’s Pat Reddan had reason to celebrate after claiming one of the highlight wins on Leger Night over the weekend.
Following up on a strong finish in the semi-final, Redzer Regera produced the goods once again to land the €2,100 first prize in the final of The Limerick & Clare GOBA A3 525 Sweepstake at the Limerick Track on Saturday night.
Redzer Regera came away well from trap two but was outpaced on the run to the opening corner as Bellagors Rebel in trap one flew up the inside to take control. Trailing the field at this point, Redzer Regera made the most of her inside pitch in two and slipped into second upon entrance to the back straight. Two lengths clear down the back, Bellagors Rebel was setting a frantic gallop out in front and he looked firmly on his way to glory.
However, after staying on strongly last week, Redzer Regera wasn’t to be denied and the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Redzer Ruby produced another powerful finish to break the heart of Bellagors Rebel and claim a length and a half victory. The time was a smart 28.71.
Trainer John Browne of Ballyea made the long trip to Shelbourne Park on Saturday night very worthwhile where he sent out Own Spice to win the third semi final of the barkingbuzz.ie A0/A1 600. Owned by Thomas O’Doherty of Cooraclare, Own Spice set a strong standard when running clear of his rivals in this final heat. The son of Skywalker Puma and Coolavanny Spice relished the longer run to the turn and he quickly moved into a clear advantage. Shaggy Nidge did stay on well to take second but Own Spice continued to gallop on to the line to eventually score by two and a half lengths in 32.43.
There was just one night’s racing at the Galway Track last week with Friday night’s twelve race card headlined by the A2 graded tenth contest over 525 yards. In this it was Fast Fit Limit owned by Gort’s John Quinn and trained by Martin Fahy that lifted the pace at the finish to close home to score by three parts of a length in 28.85.
In race two, the title for the N3 graded 350 yards contest was the ‘Covid 19 Guidelines 350’ so it was appropriate that the contest went to the aptly named Glasheen Covid who got the better of a protracted duel with Both Barrels by half a length at the line in 19.42. From traps Both Barrels and Glasheen Covid were smartly into stride and within twenty yards the pair had the contest between them racing towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend, the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Covid just led on the outer of the pair and although she went two lengths clear off the home bend the line came just in time for the well named winner.
A three cornered contest developed from the early stage of the N3 Graded 525 Yards fourth contest. Brickhill Layla showed pace on the run towards the opening bend to lead from Glasheen Sydney and Knoppogue Velvet but turning into the back straight Brickhill Layla and Glasheen Sydney began to ease away from Knoppogue Velvet. Passing halfway Brickhill Layla led by two lengths but the John Browne of Ballyea owned Glasheen Sydney moved to the leaders outside at the third bend and quickly asserting he eased on to score by two and a quarter lengths in 29.48.
The Niall O’Riordan owned Non Stop registered her ninth career success in race six which was an S6 graded contest as she proved two and a half lengths too good for Hut Pool in 19.48. Hut Pool broke smartly out wide but the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Non Stop showed plenty of pace towards the inside to lead by two lengths at the opening bend. Tracking well between the two bends Non Stop was in control entering the home straight as she stayed on well for a comfortable victory.
The outcome of race seven was in little doubt from an early stage as the Carl Maguire of Kilrush owned Wood Bell never saw another rival as he stormed to a six length success over Gracie Baby in 29.35. Badly baulked on debut he came away really smartly from his trap six berth to lead Gracie Baby and Killure Mattie by two lengths rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back Wood Bell really lengthened his stride out in front as he left his rivals toiling in his wake for an impressive success.
